Gibson USA Unveils All New 2016 Models in Traditional and High-Performance Versions

Gibson USA, producer of the world’s most iconic guitars including the Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer and Firebird, proudly announces its highly-anticipated new 2016 Model Year. With all guitars now available in two versions to suit specific performance needs, guitarists can invest in the ageless beauty of Traditional guitars faithful to Gibson’s time-honored legacy, or experience the thrill of Gibson’s all new High-Performance guitars that reach-all new heights of playability, innovation, and style.

According to Gibson Brands CEO and Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz, “Gibson USA has always pushed the extremes of innovation to help ignite new inspiration for musicians everywhere, while continuing to honor the heritage of our classic, beloved designs that remain extremely vital, desirable and collectable. We are proud to proclaim 2016 as our ‘best year ever’ by introducing this exciting new array of winning choices to our fans.”

The Traditional models are built to the same specifications as the classic Gibson guitars that have powered decades of hits, but also take advantage of advances in production and engineering that result in superb playability, consistency and superior quality. The High-Performance guitars invite a new addition to guitar collections, with infinitely customizable action adjustment, titanium hardware, an all-new “fast-access” neck heel for effortlessly reaching the neck’s highest notes, enhanced automatic tuning, new fortified aluminum case and multiple deluxe features that redefine the playing experience.

All 2016 Models deliver the signature Gibson sound—tone with depth, resonance, purity, and sustain—thanks to superior tonewoods, pickups, materials, and handmade-in-the-USA craftsmanship. And as always, playability remains second to none with Gibson’s superb action, silky smooth deep-oiled fingerboard, and expert precision setup.

With stunning, durable nitrocellulose finishes and more than 100 guitars in both highly-cherished Traditional and leading-edge High-Performance models all players can now connect with their unique passion and style. For quality, performance, playability and soul, nothing can touch Gibson’s 2016 Model Year. For more information, visit www.gibson.com.

Here are the details on the Gibson 2016 Flying V Traditional:

The Revolutionary Flying V Rocking in Traditional Style

Unveiled alongside the Explorer in 1958, the Flying V was—by a long margin—the most revolutionary electric guitar of its day, and its potential was not fully appreciated until the heavy rock and metal era of the late ’60s. The Gibson Flying V 2016 T is true to the original icon with traditional features and upgraded performance. A solid mahogany body with premium nitrocellulose finish delivers super-fat tone, the extended neck joint ensures stability and solid sustain, and a Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece lock it all down for uncompromising durability. A 496R Hot Ceramic pickup in the neck position and a 500T Super Ceramic in the bridge deliver smokin’ tone for your most demanding rock requirements, giving unprecedented power for mammoth crunching rhythm and singing lead tones alike. Features common to Gibson USA’s 2016 Traditional range include our original neck width of 1 11/16” at the nut, standard high-quality manual tuners, a traditional Graph Tech nut, and a thicker one-piece rosewood fingerboard with a hand-rubbed oil finish for a plush look and feel. Gibson USA sets up your Explorer Traditional so it plays the way any truly great American-made guitar should, right out of the padded gigbag.

Body and neck

The body of the 2016 Flying V Traditional is crafted from solid mahogany in the classic angular offset body style. The glued-in mahogany neck has a deep joint and uses the original width of 1 11/16” at the nut. The neck has a thicker one-piece rosewood fingerboard with a hand-rubbed oil finish and dot inlays.
Pickups and electronics

The 496R and 500T humbuckers have ceramic magnets and over-wound coils for scorching rock tones and unprecedented sustain, with individual volume controls, a master tone control, and a three-way switch.

Hardware

Traditional-style Mini Grover locking tuners, a Tune-o-matic bridge, and stopbar tailpiece enhance the guitar’s classic looks, while providing rock-solid anchoring and superb tuning stability.

Protective gigbag

The guitar comes protected in a padded gigbag and includes an Owner’s Manual.

2016 FLYING V TRADITIONAL

Mahogany body in classic Flying V style
Glued-in mahogany neck with deep tenon

Thicker one-piece rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays

Original neck width of 1 11/16” at the nut
Graph Tech nut cut to traditional style
Traditional Mini-Grover locking tuners
496R Hot Ceramic and 500T Super Ceramic pickups
High-gloss nitrocellulose finish
Padded gigbag